You may find that participants are reluctant to participate in evaluation: “Another questionnaire?” Participants may be tired of filling out forms, or may find paperwork to be challenging. Volunteers and students can be very helpful in assisting participants to complete forms one-to-one if necessary.

It is helpful to inform your participants early on that you will be obtaining information and feedback from them about their experience in the group, explaining why this is important, and explaining how the data will be used. Participants might be more interested in providing information if they are aware that their input will contribute to the success of your group and the Mood Walks project overall by demonstrating what works, and what could be improved.

It is also recommended to share evaluation findings with participants to highlight their achievements to them, as well as validating their feedback and demonstrating their importance in shaping and developing the group in the future.